Gina Martin
Gina Martin
energy minds oil prices
energy and oil prices are on the minds of the non-manufacturing businesses.
commodity continue core costs edge energy extreme increases prices worry
Core prices are going to continue to edge a little higher. The extreme increases in energy and commodity costs that we've had are going to seep through to the core. Core prices worry the Fed.
capacity increasing prices
It's not a coincidence that commodities prices are increasing simultaneously with capacity utilization.
consumers deal gains gas helping income prices providing quite strong
Consumers are experiencing very strong income gains and that's helping them deal with these gas prices a little better. It's providing quite a cushion.
certainly core fed half higher increases inflation interest kept pace past prices rate relatively year
Core prices are at a little higher pace than the Fed is comfortable with, but they're certainly not out of bounds, and the interest rate increases over the past year and a half have kept inflation relatively low.
confidence consumer critical readings
I think it is a critical number. It's one of the first readings we get on consumer confidence post-Katrina.
claims creation job labor market range underlying
The underlying labor market is probably about the same, with claims in the 300,000 to 320,000 range and job creation of 180,000 to 200,000 a month.
elevated family increase interest likely remain single starts term until
Single family starts will likely remain elevated until we see a significant increase in long term interest rates.
blowing holiday likely moderate modest season
The 2002 holiday season will likely be a moderate one, not blowing away modest expectations, but not disappointing them either.
affecting biggest consumer consumers determine due everybody face far fed forecasts forward greater higher housing interest item next price rates retailers slowing trading wants watching week worth year
The biggest item affecting trading next week will be the consumer price index, because everybody wants to determine how far the Fed will go. And the forward forecasts of the retailers are worth watching as well, because consumers are going to face greater constraints this year due to higher interest rates and a slowing housing market.
bias far fed inflation measured rather seems slow towards worries worrying
If anything, this confirms the Fed's bias towards inflation rather than worrying about a slow down in growth. The Fed seems to have no worries about growth, as least as far as manufacturing is measured by ISM.
deal economists number people realize trading week whether
Economists all realize this number is not a big deal, but people will be trading on the number this week whether it's a big deal or not.
access billion consumers equity mortgage record third took
Consumers have access to cash. They took out a record $804 billion in mortgage equity withdrawals in the third quarter.
difficult help people small wondering
Sometimes, we're wondering what we can do to help and unfortunately, these people are going through a difficult time. It's a small part we can play. At least it's something we can do.